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JAINA SCULPTURAL ART
Dr. A.Ekambaranathan,
Professor & Head, Department of Ancient History and Archaeology,
University of Madras, Chennai - 600 005.
Jaina contribution to art and architecture has created a special niche for them in the long history over a period of two thousand years in the southern part of peninsular India. The rich art heritage of the Digambara Jainas in Tamilnadu is manifested in their rock-cut monuments and structural sanctuaries still under worship. They contain splendid iconic forms of the Tirthankaras and their attendant deities. These sculptural depictions throw a flood of light on the chequered history of Jaina religion, illustrate the excellent artistic achievements of the past and reflect the lofty ideals and subtle philosophy of the Tirthankaras. Moreover, the changes brought about in the sphere of religion, mode of worship, rituals etc., can also be understood from these specimens of art.
Although the architectural monuments of the Jainas form the subject of research for many scholars, the potentiality of their sculptural wealth has not been taken up for intensive study. Earlier published works of Jaina art in Tamilnadu contain brief descriptions of only the outstanding specimens, although their
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